Suction cleaner



June 30, 1942.

H, B. WH lTE SUCTION CLEANER Filed Dec. 29, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Hart B. While I A ORNEY ma 5 QM o F an E H r.. -Fm 3 5 mm an N 1942- H. B. WHITE 2,287,923

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Dec. 29, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR B. W z'le June 30,

June 30, 1942'. H Wm 2,287,923

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Dec. 29, 1939 s She'ecs-Sheet 5 INVENTOR I v fiagzf z, kite I I A ORNEY Patented June 30, 1 942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE SUCTION CLEANER Harry B. White,North Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 29, 1939, Serial No. 311,512

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to new and novel improvements in suction cleaner agitators. More specifically the invention comprises'a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner which is adapted for multispeed rotation and for radial adjustment of the agitating elements.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved, rotary agitator for a suction cleaner. A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rotary agitator incorporating speed-controlling means. A still further object of the invention is to provide a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner which incorporates speed-reducing means manually controllable from the exterior of the-cleaner. A still further object of the invention is to provide a rotary agitator which embodies speed-reducing means whichare controllable exteriorly of the machine during cleaner operation... Still another object of the invention is to provide a rotary agitator in which agitating elements are adjustable radially by means manually adjustable exteriorly of the cleaner. A still further object of the invention is to provides. rotary agitator in which the surface brushing .elements are radially adjustable during cleaner operation Another object ofthe invention'is to providea rotary agitator in which the speed of agitator rotation and the radial adjustment of the agitating elements may be adjusted singly or in combination and during cleaner and agitator operation. I These and other more specific objects will appearupon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to. the drawings in which a preferred embodiment ,of the present inventionis illustrated, and in whichthe same reference character refers to the same parts throughout: Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a suction cleaner embodying a rotary agitator constructed.

in accordance with the present invention, the cleaner nozzle being shown in section to disclose the agitator positioned therein;

elements, and shows the agitator in the slow speed, brush-extended relationship;

Figure 4 is a section through the agitator upon the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and illustrates the centrally positioned agitator-supporting means;

Figure 5 is a section upon the line 55 of Figure 2 and shows the low speed clutch plate 1 carried by the agitator body;

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of a single pivoted brush element and its supporting means; Figure 7 is a section through the agitator upon the line l| of Figure 2 and discloses the radially adjustable, brush element positioned in its inner line Ill-l 0 of Figure 1, and illustrates the manual adjustment means for the agitator when positioned in the high speed and brush retracted position.

The modern suction cleaner embodies surface agitating and air cleaning means. The latter function to remove the foreign material which is dislodged from a surface covering undergoing cleaning by the former. Thewel designed cleaner is adapted tooperate upon a types of surface coverings, heavy and light, porous andv tightly woven, and also upon bare or uncovered floor' surfaces. The difierent types of surfaces upon which the cleaner is adapted to. operate makes desirable various speeds of'rotation of the agitating means, and also variable radial projections of the agitating elements relative to the axis of agitator rotation. With the cleaner operating certain types of coverings are best'cleaned Referring again to the drawings, the rotary agitator I constructed in accordance with the present invention is seen to be embodied in a modern type suction cleanen. That cleaner is seen to comprise a nozzle 2 which is interiorly connected by a passageway 3 with fan chamber 4 which houses the suction-creating fan 5 car' ried upon the depending end of a motor shaft 6. The motor is unshown but is positioned within a motor casing 1 immediately above the fan chamber 4. The cleaner ismovably supported upon wheels 8 and a pivoted handle 9 is provided by which the operator mayexert the propelling force. a

The rotary agitator is positioned within the cleaner nozzle where it is driven by a powertransmitting belt l2 which is connected, in the usual manner, to the depending motor shaft 6. The construction and manner of operation of the rotary agitator comprises the present invention and is now described.

Agitator comprises a cylindrical body formed of two sections, indicated by the reference characters l3 and i4, each of which carries a flexible brush comprising a helically arranged row of elements l0, and a helically extending beater element Cylindrical body sections l3 and M are separated at substantially'the center of the agitator by the grooved pulley l5 relative to which they have an axial or longitudinal movement for ,a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. The outer .end of each cylindrical body portion is closed by an end plate l6 which is formed with an outer axially extending cylindrical wall l1 and an inner axially extend-, ing cylindrical wall l8. The outer wall fits within the cylindrical body portions l4 and I3 and is permanently secured thereto while the inner cylindrical wall l8 seats the inner race IQ of a ball bearing 20,.the' outer race 2| of which is seated in a cup 22 carried by the thread guard support 23. The latter non-rotatably but slidably seats within a bore 24 formed in the adjacent end wall 25 of the nozzle 2. 'This structure is thesame at each end of the agitator and the end walls 25 are preferably removably secured by screws 30 to provide ease of removal.

The inner end of each of the cylindrical body sections l3, H of the agitator is also closed by an end plate,that for section |3being indicated by the reference character 26 and that for section l4 by the character 21. Each of these plates is formed with a conical clutch surface, which is integral with the end plate, in the case'of surface 28 on plate 26, but which may be a part of a separate plate fixedlysecured to the end plate, as in the case of surface 29 on plate 21. These clutch surfaces 28 and 29 are positioned upon the opposite sides of the centrally located Pulley l5, as is clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

The cylindrical body-sections l3 and 4 are rotatably space the stationary stud 36 and its support 38 relative to the hollow, cylindrical shaft 3|.

Stationary support 38 also carried, by means of a cylindrical sleeve bearing 42, a clutch element 43, the driving face of which is conical and extended parallel to the clutch face 29 of agitator body section l4. Clutch element 43 is formed with a cylindrical toothed hub 44. To drive clutch element 43 there is provided a pinion 46 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 41 in the stationary support 38 by means of a shaft48. Shaft 48 carries a gear 49 upon its opposite side which meshes with a cylindrical toothed pinion 50 formed integrally upon the hub of pulley l5. The rotation of the pulley l5 results at all times in the rotation of the clutch drive element 43 and at a reduced speed, the ratio of the gear teeth being such as to produce a reduction in the speed of the element 43 relative to the speed of the pulley l5.

It is apparent that upon the pulley l5 being rotated by the driving belt I2 there are two rotating elements upon the longitudinal axis of the agitator which rotate at different speeds. The pulley |5 rotates at a maximum speed while the element 43, directly actuated therefrom,

rotates 'in the same direction and at a reduced speed. It is clear that if the agitator body comprising sections l3 and I4 be connected directly to the pulley l5 that the agitator will rotate at a maximum speed whereas if connected directly to the clutch element 43 it'will'rotate at a reduced speed. To accomplish this selective connection the agitator body is adapted for axial or longitudinal movement while the pulley and its driven connections are non-slidablybut rotatably supported by the stationary support 38. The axial or longitudinalmovement of the agitator body is permitted by the sliding of the supports 23 in the apertures 24 of the nozzle end walls 25 and is of an extent only sufflcient to enable the clutch surfaces 28 and 29 to move into and out of engagement with the conical driving surfaces of the pulley I5 and the clutch element 43, respectively.

At one end oflthe agitator, the left as. viewed "in Figures 2 and 3, is provided a thrust washer rigidly connected for conjoint movement by their inner end plates 26 and 21 which seat upon a longitudinally extending, centrally located, hollow shaft 3| and are fixed thereto by a pairof' diametrically extending pins 32. The shaft 3|, of course, is rotatable with the body sections l3 and I4 and extends the entire length of the body.

latter extends laterally from the forward wall of thenozzle 2 and encloses the shaft 3| at its circular outer end. Roller bearings 33 and 40 Y rivets 64 in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the agitator and formed with a pair of axially extending slots 6|. Lever arm 55 is angular-' 3 52 which seats upon the adjacent nozzle end wall 25 concentrically with the agitator axis and which at all times exerts a force upon the adjacent thread guard support 23 of the. agitator body to urge that member axially. Under the actuation of the. thrust washer 52 the clutch surface 28 of the cylindrical body l3 of the agitator .is adapted to be held in driving contact with the driving surface of pulley l5. This relationship is the high speed driving position and is illustrated in Figure 2.

Manually operable means are provided to change the speed of the agitator from-high to low, that is, to disengage the clutch 28, I5 and to engage the clutch 29, 43. This manual operable means comprises a lever 55 integral with a cylindrical hub 56 which is formed interiorly with a pair of helical slots 51. The hub rotatably seats upon a cup-like bracket 69 secured to the outer face of the nozzle end wall 25 by ly movable between two positions, illustrated in Figures 2 and 10, in which it is releasably held by an arcuate stop plate 63". v

Cooperating with the manually operable lever 55 to shift the agitator body is a plunger-shaft I55v which slidingly seats within the hollow agitator shaft 3|, and which projects at each end therefrom. Within the hub 56 of lever 55 the plunger-shaft 65 is provided with a reduced end which carries a double thrust bearing 66 from the body of which extend a pair of pins 61 which 7 pass through the axially extending slots SI of the cup-like support 59 and into engagement with the helically extending camways or grooves 61 in the lever hub 56. The angular movement of the lever results in the rotation ofitshub 58 and causes the pins 67 to be advanced by the camways 51 either toward or from the center of the agitator and obviously results in the shifting of the plunger-shaft 65'within its carrier,

connect the inner end plates 26 and 21 of ,the-

cylindrical body sections to the shaft 3|. These pins extend diametrically through the shaft 3| and, accordingly, through the plunger-shaft 65 which, however, is provided at each pin 32 with an axially-extending slot l0. Obviously the plunger-shaft 65 could be rigid relative to the pins 32 but, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent, the slots 10 are of greater length than the diameter of pins -32 in order that the plunger-shaft 65 may have an axial movement which does not affect the driving connection of the agitator.

The relationship is such that asthe lever'55 is pivoted clockwise and the lever-actuated pins 61 are moved outwardly relative to the adjacent nozzle end wall 25, thereby drawing the plungershaft 65 to the left as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the right hand ends of slots 10 contact the pins 32' and move the agitator body, and against the resisting force of the thrust-washer I ment permits the thrust washer 52 to disengage the clutch 29, 43 and to engage the clutch 28, I5,

, thereby changing the agitator from its low speed condition to its high speed position,

To accomplish the radial shifting of the brush elements l each element is pivotally mounted by means of a bell crank 12 upon a bracket 13. the bracketsfor the individual brush elements being helically arranged preferablyupon a metallic supporting strip 14 which is suitably secured as by welding to the inner'surface of the cylindrical body portions l3 and Id and in such position as to relate the brush elements properly to the helically extending brush seats through which they extend. As is clearly illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 each bell crank partially encircles in' spaced relationship the shaft 3| of the agitator. The relationship is such that in the rotation of the agitator the brush-carrying end of the crank will be held outwardly by centrifugal force while the opposite end thereof is provided within each body section l3 and H a helically extending notched metallic strip 16' which is secured to the plunger shaft 55 ,by pins 11 and which extend diametrically therefrom into slots 18 formed in the enclosing shaft 3!. The notched strip 16 in each instance extends through a conforming helical extended seat or slot 19 in shaft 3| which is of such size as to permit the strip to be moved longitudinally, the strip twisting somewhat as necessary during the movement.

As is clearly illustrated in Figure 3, each notch of the strip 16 is formed as an inclined cam surface 8| at each end of which is a seat for the bell crank 12 which rides thereon. With the I bell crank positioned upon the inner radial seat.

obviously the opposite end of the bell crank has moved radially outwardly and the brush element In is in its outer radial position, whereas, with the crank seated upon the upper cam seat the opposite end of the bell crank carrying the brush ,has been moved radially inwardly and the brush.

element is in its inner radial position. The individual cams 8 I along the strip 16 are identical and are identically related to the bell cranks which they control so that upon the longitudi-' nal movement of the plunger-shaft 65 to move bell cranks from the upper to the lower seat or vice versa, the adjustment of the various brush the plunger-shaft 65 and which enclose the pins 32 are greater in length than the diameter of the pins 32. This permits the plunger 65 to be moved axially by the manually operable lever a sufficient distance to shift the strips 15 suinciently to move the bell cranks from the lower seats to the upper seats thereon. It is seen, then, that the same manually operable lever 55 which changes the speed of agitator rotation also effects the change of brush adjustment and that the two results are effected by the movement of the lever in one direction.

Referring to Figure 2 in'particular the clutch i5, 28 is seen to be in engagement and the agitator will rotate at high speed. Reference to the relationship of the bell cranks l2 and the cams Bl indicates that the bell cranks are in theouter seats which of course means that the brush elements are in their inner radial position. Manual movement of the operating lever 55 will first result in the movement of the cranks 12 down the cams to nearly the bottom thereof at which time the ends of slots 10 in the plunger-shaft 65 will have engaged the body-connected pins 32 and further movement of the plunger-shaft will result in the disengagement of clutch 5,28 and the engagement of clutch 29, 53. The agitator will then rotate at low speed and the brush elements will be in their outer radial position, as illustrated in Figure 3. It is evident that if desired the manually operable lever 55 can be reunder the urging of the spring washer 52. Clutch I I I5, 28 will again be closed and clutch 29, 43

opened before any substantial radial adjustment I 'of the brushes takes place. Such brush movement without agitator movement is'accommodated by the sliding of the agitator-connected pins 32 in their slots in the plunger-shaft 65.

To protect the speed-reducing and driving mechanism at the center of the agitator, the body sections l3 and Hi, the pulley l5, and the stationary support 38 are provided with interfitting flanges and grooves which form labyrinth seals which are indicated by the reference character 84. These labyrinths make it substantially impossible for foreign material to pass therethrough to become impacted in the body of the construction. The construction is also characterized in that the nozzle end plates 25 are removably secured by screws.

I claim:

l. A unitary agitator for a suction cleaner comprising a rotary surface-contacting agitating element, a first rotatable element adapted 'to receive arotating force, a second rotatable element, speed-reducing means connecting said first and second rotatable elements, and means to connect selectively said surface-contacting element to said first or second rotatable elements to determine the speed of rotation of said agitating.

element.

2. A unitary agitator for a suction cleaner comprising a rotary surface-contacting agitating element, a high speed rotatable driving element, a low speed second rotatable driving element,

a second means interconnecting said rotatable elementsv rotatable about the axis of said agitating means, speed-changing means connecting said rotatable elements, means selectively to connect said agitating element to said rotatable elements to determine its speed of rotation, and manually operable means positioned exteriorly of .said nozzle to operate said last-mentioned means.

7. In a suction cleaner, a casing, .an agitator rotatably mounted in said casing and comprising a cylindrical body, means mounting said cylindrical body in said casing for rotation and for movement between spaced axial positions, an agitating element carried by said body, a rotatable element adapted' to receive a rotating force, rotatable element, speed-changing means to clutch said cylindrical body selectively to said rotatable elements at different axial positions, and manually operable means on said casing to shift said cylindrical body axially,

.8. In; a suction cleaner, a casing, driving means, a rotary agitator insaid casing actuated by said driving means and comprising a cylindrical body, a surface-agitating element carried means selectively to .connect said agitating element to said driving elements to determine the speed of rotation of said agitating element, and

means to mount said aforementioned parts in a suction cleaner nozzle. 3. A unitary agitator for a suction cleaner comprising a rotary surface-contacting agitating element, a pulleyhaving a clutch surface, a rotatable element having a clutch surface, speedreducing means connecting said rotatable eleby said body, means rotatably and slidably mounting said cylindrical body in said casing, a

pulley centrally located with respect to said body, means rotatably and non-slidably supporting said pulley in said casing, manually operable mean exterior of said casing to shift said cylindrical body axially, means to connect said body to said pulley in one axial position and powertransmitting means connecting said driving means to said pulley.

9. In a suction cleaner, a casing, driving means, a rotary agitator. in said casing actuated ment to said pulley, and clutch surfaces rotatable v with said agitating element and adapted to cooperate selectively with the clutch surfaces of said pulley or said rotatable element to determine the speed of rotation of said agitating element.

v 4. A unitary agitator for a suction cleaner comprising a plurality of rotatable surface-contacting agitating elements connected for simultaneous rotation, a pulley having a clutch surface substantially centrally located with respect to said agitating elements, a rotatable element having a clutch surface, speed-reducing gears connecting said rotatable element tosaid pulley, and

" clutch surfaces rotatable with said agitating elements and adapted to cooperate selectively with the clutch surfaces of said pulley and said rotatable element to determine the speed of rotation of said agitating elements. e

5. A rotary, agitator for a suction cleaner comprising a cylindrical body, agitating means carried by said body, means to rotatably support said body, a pulley rotatable relative to said body, an element rotatable relative to said pulley, speed-changing means connecting said pulley to said element, and means to connect selectively by said driving means and comprising a cylindrical body, a surface-agitating element carried by said body, means rotatably and slidably mounting said cylindrical body in said casing, a pulley centrally located with respect to said body, arotatable element, speed-changing means driving said rotatable element from said pulley, means rotatably and non-slidably supporting said pulley and rotatable element in said casing, manually operable means exterior of said casing to shift said cylindrical body axially, means to connect said body to said pulley and to said rotatable element in difierent axial positions of said cylindrical body, and power-transmitting means connecting said driving means to said pulley.

10. In a suction cleaner, a casing, a source of power; a rotary agitator carried by said casing including a rotatable body, a first driven element, a second driven element, speed-reducing means connecting said second element to said first element, and a radially movable brush carried by said rotatable body; power-transmitting means connecting said first driven element to said source of power; and manually operable means on said casing to connect selectively said rotatable body to said driven .elements and to adjust said brush radially.

11. In a suction cleaner, a casing, including a nozzle, a rotary agitator carried by said casing in said nozzle and including a hollow cylindrical said body to-said pulley onto-said element, characterized in that said body, said pulley, and said element are rotatable about the same axis.

6. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, an agitator in said nozzle comprising rotatable agitating means, means rotatably supporting said agitating means in said nozzle, a driven rotatable element,

body formed with a brush seat, a radially extending brush in said seat, adjustable means supporting said brush in said seat on said body and for radial adjustment therethrough, and longitudinally extending means in the axis of rotation of said body extending to the end thereof, connected to 'said adjustable means, and

a second rotatable element, said elements being adapted to receive an external brush adjusting force and transmit same to said adjustment means, and non-rotating manually operable means positioned exteriorly 0! said casing to deliver a force to said longitudinallyv extending means.

12. A rotary agitator for a suction cleaner comprising a stationary longitudinally extending shaft, a cylindrical body including surfaceagitating means rotatably supported by said shaft, a rotatable pulley on said shaft, a rotatable element, speed-reducing means connecting 'said and said pulley and element" being relatively movable axially of said shaft to connect said body to said pulley and to said element.

14. In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, stationary supporting means, a cylindrical body rotatable on said supporting means, surfaceagitating means on said body, power-receiving and speed-reducing means on said supporting means, and manually operable means to connect said body to said power-receiving and to said speed-reducing means.

15. In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, stationary supporting means, a cylindrical body rotatably mounted on said stationary means,

power-receiving and speed-reducing means on said stationary means within the length of andthe circumference of said body, and means to connect said body alternatively to "said powerreceiving means or to said speed-reducing means.

HARRY B. WHITE. 

